Coil holder

ABSTRACT

A holder for a metal coil that includes a pair of spaced apart end members and a bridge member that inter-couples the spaced apart end members. Each end member has a base that includes a base receptacle for receiving opposed ends of the bridge member so as to form a unitary holder. Each end member also includes an arcuate retaining strip extending from said base and having a free end that defines an open front space through which the coil is insertable into the holder.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to a holder for a coil. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to an improved coil holderparticularly adapted for holding a metal coil in a position for easydispensing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are a variety of different holders for a metal coil. See, forexample, the Applicant's previous U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,287,019; 8,287,020;9,027,868 and D653,887. Although the devices shown in the aforementionedpatents are effective in retaining the position of a coil, this isusually retained in a box-like structure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved coilholder that is relatively simple in construction and in which the metalcoil is readily captured by the holder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved coilholder that includes spaced apart arcuate retaining pieces that definean open front end through which the metal coil is readily inserted.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved coilholder including spaced apart arcuate retaining strips defining an openfront end whereby the metal coil can be easily inserted and retained inposition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention there isprovided a holder for a coil comprised of a pair of spaced apart endmembers and a bridge member that inter-couples the spaced apart endmembers. Each end member has a base that includes a base receptacle forreceiving opposed ends of the bridge member so as to form a unitaryholder. Each end member also includes an arcuate retaining stripextending from said base and having a free end that defines an openfront space through which the coil is insertable into the holder.

In accordance with other aspects of the present invention the bridgemember is tubular and the base receptacle is likewise tubular in shapefor receiving an opposed end of the tubular bridge member; a means isprovided for securing the opposed ends of the bridge member with therespective base receptacles; the coil is a metal coil and each spacedapart end member also includes an outer end wall for limiting thelateral position of the metal coil; each arcuate retaining strip issubstantially circular in cross-section; each arcuate retaining stripextends about a circumference that is greater than half thecircumference of the circular cross-section; the free end of the arcuateretaining strip has an upwardly turned end edge; the bridge member has aflattened upper surface for receiving the coil and defining a flatsurface for cutting the coil by means of a cutting blade; the bridgemember comprises a first bridge member and including a second bridgemember that inter-couples the spaced apart end members, said secondbridge member being spaced from the first bridge member andsubstantially disposed in parallel to the first bridge member; therespective base receptacles comprise first base receptacles and furtherincluding second base receptacles at the respective bases and forreceiving opposed ends of the second bridge member; the second basereceptacles are disposed at a rear of the respective bases; including athird bridge member extending between the respective bases and disposedover and substantially in parallel with the first base member; both thefirst and third bridge members are disposed at a front of the holderwith the coil material adapted to be disposed between the first andthird bridge members; the bridge member comprises one bridge member andincluding another bridge member that extending between the respectivebases and disposed over and substantially in parallel with the firstbase member; both the one and another bridge members are disposed at afront of the holder with the coil material adapted to be disposedbetween the one and another bridge members; wherein each arcuateretaining strip is substantially circular in cross-section, and eacharcuate retaining strip extends about a circumference that is greaterthan half the circumference of the circular cross-section; wherein eacharcuate retaining strip extends in a circumference that is orthogonal toa length of the bridge member, the open front space is measured betweenthe free end of the arcuate retaining strip and the base, and the openfront space has a length measured in the direction of the circumferencethat is greater than a radius of the circumference; and wherein the freeend of the arcuate retaining strip has an upwardly turned end edge.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there isprovided a holder for a coil comprised of; a pair of spaced apart endmembers and bridge member that inter-couples the spaced apart endmembers, each end member having a base that includes a base receptaclefor receiving opposed ends of the bridge member so as to form a unitaryholder, each said end member also including an arcuate retaining stripextending from said base and having a free end that defines an openfront space through which the coil is insertable into the holder,wherein each arcuate retaining strip extends in a circumference that isorthogonal to a length of the bridge member, the open front space ismeasured between the free end of the arcuate retaining strip and thebase, the open front space has a length measured in the direction of thecircumference that is greater than a radius of the circumference, andthe arcuate retaining strips are disposed in parallel to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It should be understood that the drawings are provided for the purposeof illustration only and are not intended to define the limits of thedisclosure. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of theembodiments described herein will become apparent with reference to thefollowing detailed description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the coil holder of the present inventionwithout having the coil disposed within the holder;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to that shown in FIG. 4 andillustrating one of the end members exploded away from the bridgemember;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the coil holderof the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the coil holder illustrated in FIGS. 6and 7 but without the coil being disposed in place and with each bridgerod being supported in a different manner;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view similar to that shown in FIG. 8 but withone of the end members exploded away from the bridge members;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the presentinvention

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 10

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the presentinvention without the metal coil in place; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the third embodiment similar to thatshown in FIG. 12 with one of the end members exploded away from thebridge members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to the drawings. In this regard, FIGS. 1-5illustrate a first embodiment of the pres inv; FIGS. 6-9 illustrate asecond embodiment of the present invention; and FIGS. 10-13 illustrate athird embodiment of the present invention. In these various embodiments,some of the same reference numbers are used to identify similarcomponents.

In the first embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS.1-5, the coil holder is comprised of a pair of spaced apart end members12 and a bridge member 14 that intercouples the spaced apart endmembers. FIGS. 3-5 show the end members 12 and the bridge member 14. Forthis particular embodiment there is only a single bridge member 14 andthis may be provided with a flattened surface, such as illustrated at 17in FIG. 4. The flattened surface can assist in the cutting of the metalcoil which occurs at the exit point from the coil at a location shownapproximately at 17 in FIG. 3. The surface 17 preferably extends thefull length of the bridge member. FIG. 3 also shows the free end 13 ofthe coil 11.

Each end member 12 has a base 20 that includes a base receptacle 22,clearly shown in, for example, FIG. 5. These base receptacles are forreceiving opposed ends of the bridge member 14 so as to form a unitaryfolder as illustrated in FIG. 4. Each of the end members 12 also includean arcuate retaining piece or strip 24 extending from the base 20 andhaving a free end 25 that defines an open front space S through whichthe coil is insertable into the holder. In this regard, FIGS. 2 and 3illustrate the coil 11 in place within the arcuate retaining piece orstrip 24.

The bridge member 14 is preferably a tubular member. The base 20 of eachend member also includes an outer end wall 26 for limiting the lateralposition of the metal coil. The arcuate retaining piece 24 is preferablysubstantially circular in cross section. This arcuate piece extendsabout a circumference that is greater than half the circumference of thecircular cross section. This is quite clear from the cross sectionalview of FIG. 3. The free end 25 preferably has an upward turned end edgewhich is clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. This upwardly turned endedge assists in moving the metal coil into the arcuate retaining strip24 from the front. In FIG. 4 each base receptacle has a front facingslot 23 of a sufficient width that allows the metal to be cut along itscomplete width. The flattened surface 17 may extend into each slot 23.

There are certain dimensions, such as illustrated in FIG. 3, that areimportant in providing the desired ability to insert the metal coil aswell as retain the metal coil in place. FIG. 3 illustrates the dimensionS which is a front space through which the coil is inserted. These coilshave a certain amount of resiliency and thus can be somewhat flattenedfor insertion. FIG. 3 also shows the radius R of the circular crosssection. It is noted that each of the retaining strips 24 extends in acircumference that is substantially orthogonal to a length of the bridgemember. The open front space S is measured between the free end 25 ofthe retaining strip and the base 20. The open front space S has a widththat is greater than the radius R of the circumference. Thesedimensional relationships are clear from the diagram of FIG. 3.

A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS.6-9. In this embodiment the same reference numbers are used particularlywith regard to the identification of the end members 12. Reference toFIGS. 8 and 9 clearly indicates that in addition to the forward bridgemember 14 there is also a rearward bridge member 14′. Each of thesebridge members, such as illustrated in FIG. 9 is received in areceptacle. These receptacles are indicated in FIG. 9 as receptacles 22and 22′. Like receptacles are provided at each of the end members 20.With regard to the second embodiment, also refer to the cross-sectionalview of FIG. 7 which clearly illustrates the position of the respectivebridge members 14, 14′. With the use of a second bridge member, there isa somewhat greater stability to the holder. In the second embodiment thediameter of both bridge members may be smaller than the diameter of thebridge member 14 illustrated in the first embodiment. It is noted inFIG. 7 that the same type of front open space S is provided. In thesecond embodiment the forward bridge 14 may also be provided with aflattened surface like that illustrated in FIG. 4.

In FIG. 8 there is illustrated a slightly different version of attachingthe bridge members. In, for example, FIG. 4 or 12 an adhesive may beapplied on the outer surface of the bridge member at each end thereof.The adhesive would be applied essentially between the bridge member andbase receptacle. However, in FIG. 8, instead of a base receptacle, thereare provided end posts 27 that extend into each end of the bridgemember. An adhesive may be applied between the post 27 and the innersurface of the bridge member. An advantage of this version is that thereceptacle and slot is not necessary. In all versions shown, thatflattened surface 17 may be used to provide an easier surface againstwhich a cutting knife can extend.

A third embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS.10-13. This embodiment also uses end members that are substantially thesame as illustrated and described in the first two embodiments. However,in this embodiment there is a third bridge member 14″ that is disposedover the bridge member 14. This provides a gap G between the bridgemembers 14 and 14″. This gap is for receiving the end 13 of the metalcoil. This arrangement stabilizes the end of the metal coil and providesan area adjacent to the gap G where the metal coil can be cut across thefull width thereof. The cross-sectional view of FIG. 11 also illustratesthe space S which, due to the existence of two front bridge members, maybe smaller than the space S shown in the second embodiment andillustrated in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 7. In this thirdembodiment, such as illustrated in FIG. 13, each of the end members hasrespective receptacles 22, 22′ and 22″.

Having now described a limited number of embodiments of the presentinvention, it should now be apparent to those skilled in the art thatnumerous other embodiments and modifications thereof are contemplated asfalling within the scope of the present invention, as defined by theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A holder for a coil comprised of a pair of spacedapart end members and a bridge member that inter-couples the spacedapart end members, each end member having a base that includes a basereceptacle for receiving opposed ends of the bridge member so as to forma unitary holder, each said end member also including an arcuateretaining strip extending from said base and having a free end thatdefines an open front space through which the coil is insertable intothe holder.
 2. The holder of claim 1 wherein the bridge member istubular and the base receptacle is likewise tubular in shape forreceiving an opposed end of the tubular bridge member.
 3. The holder ofclaim 2 wherein a means is provided for securing the opposed ends of thebridge member with the respective base receptacles.
 4. The holder ofclaim 1 wherein the coil is a metal coil and each spaced apart endmember also includes an outer end wall for limiting the lateral positionof the metal coil.
 5. The holder of claim 1 wherein each arcuateretaining strip is substantially circular in cross-section.
 6. Theholder of claim 5 wherein each arcuate retaining strip extends about acircumference that is greater than half the circumference of thecircular cross-section.
 7. The holder of claim 6 wherein the free end ofthe arcuate retaining strip has an upwardly turned end edge.
 8. Theholder of claim 1 wherein the bridge member has a flattened uppersurface for receiving the coil and defining a flat surface for cuttingthe coil by means of a cutting blade.
 9. The holder of claim 1 whereinthe bridge member comprises a first bridge member and including a secondbridge member that inter-couples the spaced apart end members, saidsecond bridge member being spaced from the first bridge member andsubstantially disposed in parallel to the first bridge member.
 10. Theholder of claim 9 wherein the respective base receptacles comprisesfirst base receptacles and further including second base receptacles atthe respective bases and for receiving opposed ends of the second bridgemember.
 11. The holder of claim 10 wherein the second base receptaclesare disposed at a rear of the respective bases.
 12. The holder of claim11 including a third bridge member extending between the respectivebases and disposed over and substantially in parallel with the firstbase member.
 13. The holder of claim 12 wherein both the first and thirdbridge members are disposed at a front of the holder with the coilmaterial adapted to be disposed between the first and third bridgemembers.
 14. The holder of claim 1 wherein the bridge member comprisesone bridge member and including another bridge member that extendingbetween the respective bases and disposed over and substantially inparallel with the first base member.
 15. The holder of claim 14 whereinboth the one and another bridge members are disposed at a front of theholder with the coil material adapted to be disposed between the one andanother bridge members.
 16. The holder of claim 1 wherein each arcuateretaining strip is substantially circular in cross-section, and eacharcuate retaining strip extends about a circumference that is greaterthan half the circumference of the circular cross-section.
 17. Theholder of claim 16 wherein each arcuate retaining strip extends in acircumference that is orthogonal to a length of the bridge member, theopen front space is measured between the free end of the arcuateretaining strip and the base, and the open front space has a lengthmeasured in the direction of the circumference that is greater than aradius of the circumference.
 18. The holder of claim 17 wherein the freeend of the arcuate retaining strip has an upwardly turned end edge. 19.A holder for a coil comprised of; a pair of spaced apart end members anda bridge member that inter-couples the spaced apart end members, eachend member having a base that includes a base receptacle for receivingopposed ends of the bridge member so as to form a unitary holder, eachsaid end member also including an arcuate retaining strip extending fromsaid base and having a free end that defines an open front space throughwhich the coil is insertable into the holder, wherein each arcuateretaining strip extends in a circumference that is orthogonal to alength of the bridge member, the open front space is measured betweenthe free end of the arcuate retaining strip and the base, the open frontspace has a length measured in the direction of the circumference thatis greater than a radius of the circumference, and the arcuate retainingstrips are disposed in parallel to each other.
 20. The holder of claim19 wherein the free end of the arcuate retaining strip has an upwardlyturned end edge and the length of the open front space is also less thana diameter of the circumference.